Lord began to turne her backe against him and prepared a crosse for him The 10. of Iune anno 1619. shee gaue him the blowe checke and almost a mate VVe will declare the circumstances thereof in some sort for speciall cause He had Commission to leaue certaine men in the Garrisons for the Defence and keeping of them and with the rest to goe and joyne himselfe with the Army that lay before Budweis and in pursuite of that Commission he departed from Pilsen and went to Portewin an houres going from Vodnian where he attended for 500. Horsmen that the Earle was to bring vnto him there he expected them from day to day In the meane time the Generals prest him to goe forward without staying any longer for them so the Tenth of the said month he departed from thence with his Troupes being about 8. Companies of Foote but not compleat because of the Garrisons aforesaid and about 450. Horsmen among the said Garrisons there was one of 30. Souldiers in a Village called Netoliz on the right hand of the way which the Generall held The euening before his departure the Hungarians that serued the Enemy set Fire thereon and constrained the Garrison to withdraw themselues into the Church The Generall being arriued with the Army at Zablatti in Dutch Grossen Lasken a Village distant about a Germane myle and a halfe from the said Netoliz was aduertised by the Earle of Solmes who as then was at Vodnian with charge to prouide for the said Garrisons that the said Souldiers yet made resistance and desired him to ayde them to goe thither with the Army my Lord found it to be a dangerous matter to abandon them he feared a reproach Therefore he resolued vpon another course and commaunded the body of his Army to stay there while he himselfe with 150. Horsemen ranne thither causing part of them to stay by the way to ayde him in his retraict and to the same end commanded 400. Muskatiers to march to lye in Ambuscado and to stay his returne He thereupon put forward with the rest of his Horsemen and met with the Hungarians whom he valiantly charged but the first part of them being seconded by a great number of others and by some Troupes of Cuirasses he was constrained to retire by another way without hauing meanes to preuaile of the aduantage which he prouided for himselfe by the Ambuscado which neuerthelesse hee caused to be aduertised that they should slide along through the Wood and by the water side and so get to the Army which they effected in such manner that they safely arriued there but yet were narrowly pursued by the Enemy In the meane time the Earle of Bucquoy with the maine body of his Army consisting of 5000. Horse and 4000. footmen marched forward following the traces of the said Lord Generall who being come to the Village where the rest of his men stayed for him and thinking to refresh himselfe sodainly all the Earle of Bucquoyes Army shewed it selfe Whereupon the Generall mounted on Horsebacke with all his Souldiers in order of Battaile commanded them to make a Fortification or sconse of Waggons which was presently begun on the left side but by reason that the VVaggoners were put into a great feare by the running away of certaine Caroches it was not made round about as it should haue bin The length of the Village was behinde at the backe of the Generals Army his Horsemen being deuided into 3. Battalions in manner of a Triangle the better to ayde one the other The Foot-men were behinde and the Carriage in the middle being 4. Companies on the left hand and 3. on the right and one before the Carriage all in such manner disposed that the Horsmen had meanes to be defended by the Muskatiers The Enemy being very neere and all the field couered ouer with his horsemen my Lord Generall set vpon those that were formost and scattered certaine Squadrons of Hungarians but the Cuirassiers belonging to the Baron of Walstein comming forward he was repulsed and so whotly charged on all sides that he was put to flight A little before the Enemy began to giue the on-set 50. Souldiers of the Colonels company that were on the right side were commaunded to goe to the Generals lodging to defend it and the little Street betweene both but as they went the rest of the Company followed them by misunderstanding And the two other Companies did the like and were no sooner gone but the Enemies entred into their places who acknowledging and perceiuing their errour turned backe againe to place themselues as they were at the first but then it was too late in such manner that they were constrayned to looke for their owne safety There was a Wood beyond the Village whether they sought to retire but finding themselues to bee out of the Village to crosse ouer a plaine They were presently enuironed on all sides by the Hungarians and so hardly charged that few of them could saue themselues the rest were either slaine or taken prisoners In the meane time the horsemen were broken part of the footmen lost and the fiue Companies remaining in great hazard to be spoyled Carpezo the Serieant Maior the Rhingraue The Captaines Haid Scheammerdorf and N. commaunding them had the great body of the Enemies forces before them the fire at their backes and all the Amunition except some carkes of powder with all the carriage burning whereby they were put to their shifts and if they had any blood at their fingers ends it was then time for them to shew it as it became them Assoone as the horsemen were dispierced the Enemy began to set vpon the fiue Companies on all sides where they could come at them and they defended themselues valiantly as they were in a Garden hauing the aduantage of a hedge which was a good defence and safegard vnto them The Earle of Bucquoy made certaine peeces of Cannon to be shot at them on that side thinking to beat it downe but he could not doe it that day The Sunne shone very hot and the heat that encreased by the fire that burnt in the Village was the cause that the fire which the Enemy put into the hedge easily burnt but the diligence of those that were assayled surmounting all difficulties presently quenched it In the meane time the Generall without any astonishment at that disorder had reassembled and gathered his horsemen againe together and with them forcibly past through the Hungarians squadrons and ranne too and fro in field and returned againe into the Village with an intent to mount vpon a fresh horse and to put on his Cuirasse being then vnarmed But hee found his lodging already taken vp by the Enemy and that side of the Village that was behind at the backe of his Souldiers all set on fire which notwithstanding he sought by all the meanes he could to get among his footmen but the way was stopt on all sides At the last as hee turned and lookt about
had a designe to doe something against Crumaw where he had intelligences and diuers inuentions to become Master thereof and made account to win it within few daies if he once went to besiege it But two things withheld him from it that is great want of money and men He himselfe his Captaines and soldiers being so extremely needy that they could not be more He was brought to such an exigent that to buy victuals he was forced at times to borrow 30. or 40. Florins To write to Prague for it it was labour in vaine he knew their humours too well with whom he had to deale It was as if he should beate the aire and lose his time to seeke to doe any thing by letters Therefore being prest by necessity and the great instance that his officers made vnto him he was constrained to interrupt the course of his victory and personally to goe vnto Prague there to finde the meanes to minister some comfort vnto his Armie and to that end went thither with an intent to stay there but 3. or 4. daies and then to returne againe to persue his designe But there it fell out with him according to the manner of that court that is that in stead of foure hee staied foureteene daies In the meane time there hapned a little tragedie which I will set downe here because in many places it hath beene diuersly discoursed of and specially concerneth the honour of the said Lord Marshall I will tell it truly as it was I said before that the States of nether Austria had entertained one of the Lord Marshals regiments of soldiers into their pay This regiment had happy and vnfortunate successe as the course of the warre fell out At Langenloyd the enemy comming from Crembs to set vpon him that commanded the same in the absence of the Lord Marshall de fels that was not farre from it with the Bohemian Armie ready to assist it But the enemie charging them with a great number of horsemen enclosed them on all sides and put them to flight euen in the face of the said Lord Marshall de fels not without great suspition of some secret conniuence And here it is to bee noted that the said Lord Marshall bare a deadly hatred vnto the Earle of Mansfields soldiers After that againe it had another misfortune at Garst whereby being some was diminished and the states of Austria wanting money they resolued to discharge it as they did but in the absence of the Lord Marshall who tooke that their proceeding in euill part because they had promised to send the said regiment againe to him into Bohemiah to serue him there where he should haue occasion to imploy it The said soldiers went directly vnto Prague there to aske for their pay where he dealt in such manner with the first that came thither that they were content giuing to some three to others foure and to some fiue moneths pay to stay for a moneth or two for the rest After that came others and among them some seditious persons that would not content themselues with the former order but would be paid forthwith The Lord Marshall shewed them what necessitie and want of money he had and that hee had not as yet receiued any thing of the States of Austria But all that notwithstanding they would not be satisfied and were most importunate with him specially after dinner when the spirit of wine had heated their braines To conclude they resolued to haue money howsoeuer they came by it and that they would not leaue the Lord Marshals lodging before they had it And to that end at the least fifty of them in number assembled there together who resolutely determined to stay in his drawing chamber vntill such time as he came forth to supper and not to leaue him till they were all paid In the meane time the Lord Marshall diuers times caused them to be spoken withall and made offer vnto them of seuerall conditions as also to shew them the impossibility that he had to pay them all at one time for that as it is said before he had receiued no money from the states of Austria But all reasons and arguments notwithstanding they would haue their full and entire payment saying that otherwise they would not depart from thence Supper time drawing on Two of the Lord Marshals Captaines comming out of the chamber thought with good speeches to haue dispatched those rascals from thence and accommodating themselues to necessity make them leaue the place that euening but it would not be for in steed of yeelding they became more obstinate and in stead of good answers they vsed threatnings and so from words they fell to blowes The Lord Marshall hearing that noise came forth with some Captaines and his houshould seruants that were about him and set fiereely vpon them Wherewith they being somewhat abashed at his presence though they were the greater number began to giue backe and at last to runne away where many of them were hurt and one amongst the rest deadly wounded This was the first act A little while after againe all the Captaines and officers that then were there thinking to goe home vnto their lodgings and going along the streetes were set vpon and assailed by those seditious fellowes and driuen backe againe to the Lord Marshals house This was the second act The Captaines perceiuing what danger they were in sent for their Pistols and making themselues stronger by more officers that ioyned with them resolued to retire in despite of those mutinous companions In the meane time it fell out that one of those which held not with the seditious company seeking to goe forward was by them laid hold on and hardly vsed amongst them The Captaines seeing that stept forward to aide him and charged them hotly they for their parts likewise defending themselues Whereby on both sides they fell at blowes Neuerthelesse the seditious soldiers retired the better to rancke and fortifie themselues The Lord Marshall in the meane time looking out of his window and beholding the insolency of those mutinous fellowes went downe and mounting vpon his horse accompanied with his houshold seruants ioyned with the Captaines with whom he persued them and laid some of them dead vpon the ground At last the Kings Maiestie hearing of the quarrell sent his gard to aide the Lord Marshall and the Burgers made profer to assist him But feare hauing already seized vpon the hearts of the seditious soldiers there was nothing else done at that time This was the last act of that Tragedie which I haue particularly rehearsed for the reason aforesaid The 14. daies being past about the middle of Iune he went from Prague hauing first gotten some money to comfort his soldiers with promise shortly after to be better supplied both with men and money And being at Thein wrote againe vnto the land Officers and plainely made them acquainted with the necessity that he had of more forces to execute his designe But neuer
of Prague in the Counsell Chamber of Vs the said Directors the 20. Day of the Month of August Anno. 1618. THE Conditions that bound him to bring certaine Troupes thither within a time appointed were by him happily performed as euery man knoweth and the processe of the Affaires will make it more euidently appeare Now it resteth to know whether the said Troupes were imployed to the endes pretended that is for the Defence of the said Crowne and whether he proceeded diligently and carefully in that charge which was imposed vpon him That is it which wee doe and will Iustly proue Among the great Sea or gulfe of difficulties whereinto the States of Bohemia found themselues to be plunged at the beginning of their warre there was nothing that more troubled them then the shutting vp and stopping of the great passage into Germany for it was from thence that they expected their ayde and reliefe of munition money and men The Towne of Pilsen principall among the rest and the most important places of that Realme shut vp that passage It is ten miles distant from Prague vpon the great and open way to Nuremburg seated in a plaine Countrey rising a little on the South side betweene two small Riuers which flancke it on the East and west sides and ioyne together towards the North garnished with a deepe ditch and double walls grounded vpon a rock and full of a great number of Towers with two faire Suburbs To conclude a Towne very strong according to the auncient manner and found to be such by two sieges made about the same which in former time it valiantly sustained The first against Zischa anno 1470. the other against the Hussites anno 1434. which continued 10. moneths in such manner that it had the report and commendation that in 700. yeares time no man could enter into the same against her will Besides this that the Towne is strong the Citizens were Catholikes and therefore extreamely affected vnto the Emperour as in effect they shewed the same by infinite insolencies by them committed against the States whereby they hindred them from the free vse of that passage So that in the end all well considered specially the discommodities which that Towne brought vnto the Common-wealth The States resolued to reduce the same vnder their obedience And Commission was giuen vnto the Earle of Mansfield their Generall of the Artillerie who without any delay went and besieged the same but yet very weakely and ill prouided of all things necessary hauing in all but nine Cornets of horse hired and some of the Country people and 2000. foot-men to whom he ioyned 3. Companies more of 200. in each Company which he raised during the siege with some Companies of the Countrey people which the States sent vnto him With all them and sixe field Peeces whereof the greatest bare a bullet of fiue pound of Iron he began the siege vpon the 16. of September 1618. and first assailed the Towne vpon the South side the Suburbs being burnt vp by them within the Towne thinking to preuaile by the aduantage of the heighth which that side gaue him without but perceiuing that it was but in vaine he altered his purpose and planted his Cannon against the Cloyster on the East side where he began to play vpon the same and to set his Souldiers on worke both night and day and at last made a breach but so hard to come at and within so well rampard by those that were besieged that hee was wholly out of hope to take it on that side specially with those small field Peeces qui vuol vada qui non vuol manda saith the Italian He had written to Prague to haue certaine peeces of greater Ordnance but those being not sent and perceiuing that of force he must haue them or else leaue the siege hee tooke horse and rode post to Prague and effected so much that he got two great Cannons which hee speedily brought thether there stood a house a little beyond the breach Northward gitturing halfe without the walls and the Counterscarfe of the Towne which finding fit and conuenient for his designe hee caused it to be battered and suddenly with those two Peeces and the rest that were there before from thence beate so violently vpon it that within lesse then an houre he had made a reasonable breach Now in his absence and by commaundement from himselfe the Officers had so much annimated the Souldiers that by extraordinary trauell they turned the ordinary course of the riuer in such manner that they might goe dry-foot vnto the said breach a thing which gaue great aduantage vnto the said Earle whereof he failed not to take the benefit and caused a furious assault to bee giuen a bon chat bon Rat it is commonly said for if they without assayled valiantly they within as gallantly defended themselues they without fought for honour and they within for their liues The breach was flanqued in such manner that they could not get vnto it but in the face of Musket shot which playd vpon them as thick as hayle-shot But the courage of that Earle and the credit that he had with his Souldiers made them to contemne the danger And to conclude after diuers houres of resistance and when they within had made all manner of resistance that possibly they could it proceeded so farre that they began to parley and to agree within the Towne to yeeld with Swords in their handes the said Earle making them within to know that he was as well able to deale fauourably as to take aduantage of his victory by force This was done vpon the 21. of Nouember the same yeare being the first fruites of his labours and newes that well pleased the States who thereby perceiued themselues to be deliuered from that troublesome Thorne in their feete Yet there rested another which wee will seeke to pull out the next yeare following we shall see what it will be In the meane time the season of the yeare comming on wee entred into Garrison till winter was gone Winter being past the Irons began to heate Mars with his colour euery day produced some other new effects The Enemy then held no places more of importance in Bohemia but Crumaw and Budweis places in a manner enuironned on all sides with our Garrisons in such manner thus to issue out to forrage the Countrey they must of force be strong 300. Horsmen and 200. Muskatiers of the Enemy entred into the Field to that end Iohn George Earle of Solmes Lieutenant Colonell to the Generall who as then commanded those Garrisons was aduertised thereof and mounting on horsebacke with his Company and a certaine number of Muskatiers went to seeke the Forragers and hauing found them beat and wholly ouerthrew them The state of humane affaires is subiect to change and alteration and there is no posperity so great but either it is mixed or else followed with aduersity Fortune enuying at the fauour which shee had shewed vnto that
the lesse to lose no time expecting greater forces he went to take the fort of Walleren after that the better to bridle other Garisons that were neere thereunto and so to prepare the way to besiege Crumaw Before his departure the Earle de la Tour sent from the Prince of Anholt came into his Armie and being come to Prachadiz the Lord Marshall receiued letters out of higher Austria whereby they were intreated to goe thither in respect of the danger that they feared least the Duke of Bauaria would enter into that countrey He shewed the letters vnto the Earle de la Tour and aduised his Maiestie thereof To those of Austria hee made answer that being so weake of forces as he was he could not aide them but that daily he expected more forces and that then he would most willingly come vnto them and therewith marched forward to the fort of Walleren to besiege it as aforesaid That fort is seated vpon a little hill iust vpon the comming out of the great wood which is betweene Bohemia and Passaw at the riuer of Moldauia running at the foot thereof at the top of the said fort there was a small sconse about 60. paces long furnished with two rauelins square at both corners which flanked the curtaines of the fort all furnished with good ditches and pallizadoes besides the trenches that were within it In the fort there was about 400. men The Lord Marshall placed his Armie about it and not long after in the marshie woods by diligent search he found out a passage to get neere vnto the fort on the banke side and that euening he sent one of his Captaines with 500 musketeers to seeke to passe through it to lie in the wood behind the fort The next morning the Cannon was planted and two peeces and a murtherer were set on worke to hinder those that were within the fort from fortifying the same About ten of the clocke the Captaine got neere vnto the fort and both parts saluting each other with a storme of musket bullets they that were below in the halfe moone perceiuing themselues to be assailed behinde were in great feare and running away saued themselues in the fort our souldiers pursued them hotly and that with such diligence that presently they got into the fort and all the enemies were enclosed in the small sconce well intrenched as I said before and in an instant all our musketeeres got so neere vnto them that they might ioyne together at push of pike And in the meanetime while the musketeers on both sides plaid one against the other the Lord Marshall caused a mine to be made which the next day was blowne vp with indifferent good effect but that notwithstanding the breach was not great enough in such manner that the next day another was begun to be made and to conclude they within were kept at such a bay with Muskets Cannon shot and assaults that the effects thereof ioyning with the apprehension which they had conceiued of another mine the second day they made composition and the third day issued out of the fort which according to the opinion of Don Balthasar de Marades Serieant Maior Generall of the Emperors horse-men would haue beene strong enough to haue held our Armie before it all that summer The taking of this fort procured great ioy to them in Prague but it continued not long for in the meane time while we were busied to pull out that thorne the Duke of Bauaria prickt vs with another hauing seized vpon vpper Austria which without comparison procured more griefe vnto vs then euer the other did The Lord Marshall aduised his Maiestie touching the same giuing him counsell what to doe in such occurrents which because it is of great importance I will here particularly set downe the contents of his letter SIR yesterday I wrote vnto your Maiestie to certifie you of the heauy newes that is in vpper Austria And for that it doth not only continue for certaine but as it is to be feared that the Duke of Bauaria will approch vnto this country to enter therein I thought it conuenient to giue your Maiestie this further aduise and therewith to shew you what I thinke requisite to be done in these occurrents First I thinke it conuenient and most necessarie to prouide for the defence of the country whereunto we are not sufficient when the two Regiments of the Duke de Weinmar and that of Colonel Gray are come hither And therefore it is requisite that your Maiestie should hold Colonel Grayes regiment there about Prague for your guard and for other occasions which shall fall out and also to fortifie and keepe strongly these foure places Pilsen Piseck Tabor and Wittignaw to the which end it is requisite to put my Regiment into Pilsen because some of my men are therein already into Piseck the Duke de Weinmars regiment with 100. horsemen and 100. Hungarians into Tabor Colonel Francks regiment with as many horsemen and Hungarians and into Wittignaw Colonel Seitans Regiment with 50 horsemen and 100. Hungarians and all these to runne on that side whither the enemies shall bend their forces to take breath and thereby to stop them if it be possible from victuals The rest of my horsemen and of the Hungarians must retire towards Pilsen or to some other part where occasion shall serue by that meanes at times suddenly to doe some enterprise to indamage the enemie All these troupes being thus diuided it is requisite that as soone as they are entred into the said places they must begin earnestly to labour about the fortifications of the same wherein your Maiestie must spare nothing and make as great haste therein as possibly you can because it is to be feared that we shall be surprized sooner then we thinke for and that afterward it will be too late to remedie the same For the enemie being strong of horsemen as in truth he is we may easily be enuironed by him before we could auoid it And our forces being in that manner ouerthrowne and hauing no other places that are strong and well garrisond your Maiestie may well iudge what danger and losse may thereby ensue and whether we may not apprehend the same mischiefe to fall vpon vs that is hapned to those of Austria specially considering the mutable humor of this people who vpon this occasion doing something to the preiudice of your Maiestie without doubt to excuse themselues will after seeke to couer it with the cloake of necessitie But these foure places being fortified in this manner that storme may be stayed at the brinke while the Prince of Anholt comes out of Austria to aide those that are in extremitie And by this meanes we may withstand the enemies forces this yeere and in the meane time your Maiestie may haue leisure to thinke vpon the meanes how to repulse them altogether better then you can doe now For the rest touching other smaller places there must be garrisons put into them to
vp vnder the ashes of Dissimulation brake out into flames of a mischieuous treason The 26. of March the Treaty long a working was Concluded at Mies betweene the Baron of Tilly Lieutenant generall of the Dukedome of Bauaria Agent in that aswell in the name of his Master as of the Imperiall Maiesty on the one part and the Captaines of the Garrison of Pilsen namely Iohn Pieritz Leonard Syrach Wolfe Sigismund Teuffell Iohn Grott Magnus Laurwald on the other party Where amongst other Conditions it was assured that in regard of their absolute departure from the said Towne of Pilsen the said Captaines should receiue 140000. Florins of his Impetiall Maiesty which was for the 7. Companies of the Regiment to euery one 20000. Florins Colonell Franke made this Treaty a part by himselfe and got promise of 30000. Florins in regard of the restitution of Tabor This treaty of Mies thus Concluded was put in execution without delay and these Marchants receiued the price of their cursed sale wherwith euery one departed whether he thought good T is true that the L. Marshall wrote to them euen after the Conclusion of this treaty some kinde Letters thinking by faire language to drawe them into the Palatinate But it was in vaine their guilty Consciences had taken away their courages to come before him His Auditor of the Campe hauing receiued 4000. Reich Dollers the wagcs of his Periury which hee thought to conuay secretly through the Palatinate verily beleeuing by the finenesse of his wit so to Iustifie the rest of his Actions that the L. Marshall should receiue very good satisfaction Couetousnes had so hood-winckt his eyes that he thought all other men blinde The L. Marshall who had all this while his eyes about him and being naturally quick-sighted presently discouered the money and by the price Iudged of the quality of the marchandise He caused at Hirschaw the man and money to bee Attach't and sent out his Processe by his Captaines by whose sentence hee was Condemned to Death and Executed according to Martiall Law The Colonell Franke was strangely astonish'd at the Imprisonment of the Auditor and became so melancholy vpon it that euery man perceiued a great change and alteration in him The L. Marshall being come to Ambergh thought good to call the said Colonell Franke and brought him before my Lord the Earle of Solmes Vice Gouernour of the Vpper Palatinate and my Lords the Counsell Electorate to cleare himselfe of what should be obiected against him concerning the yeelding vp of Pilsen Being summonned by the Lord Marshall he takes his Caroach and comes thither but being there hee was surpriz'd with such a feare that without bidding farewell hee returned hastilyer then he came leauing his Caroach and baggage behinde him with his Seruants Hee got to Nurembergh and hauing stayed there some time he went from thence to Regenspergh and after to Tabor where he had thought to be entertained into the Garrison But they within hauing before receiued a Commaund from the L. Marshall not to receiue him would not admit him So that hauing diuers times attempted and endeauoured by all meanes hee could deuise to get in at last being vnable to compasse it after he had tarryed some time in the Enemies Campe he went to Prague there to make his Apologie where wee leaue him busied aswell in iustifying himselfe as accusing others Captaine Syrach after the yeelding vp of the Towne departed out of Germany towards his owne Countrey and being come neare to Erfurt certaine Horsmen set vppon his Baggage and tooke it all away And it is reported that hee lost the worth of 30000. Florins which was all that himselfe had Pillag'd and come vniusily by in Bohemia and thus is that lost by Robbing which is got by Oppression that also goes away by the Fyfe that comes by the Drum By these Examples which I shew by the way it euidently appeares that Diuine Iustice followes not farre off to Disloyalty and periury But if their fellowes prosper yet they are not therefore quite exempted from the punishment they deserue Hee is not quitted that drawes his Halter after him Euery thing will come in his season that can but stay his time though God lets them alone a time he shall not yet forgiue them the Debt but they shall pay the principall with the arrerages which it may bee will amount to more then they thinke of Now the Enemies seeing themselues freed of this thorne and Maisters of the place which so much gall'd them resolued for all that to driue all the otber Garrisons Royall out of Bohemia that they might bee sole and peaceable possessors of that Crowne To effect this they went to besiege Falkenaw a little Towne scituate betwixt Eguer and Ellenbogen to thrust out Colonell Gray who was in it with certain Companies of his owne Nation and others They battered and assaulted it diuers times and plyde it so close that Colonell Gray after hee had done the part of a braue Souldier many dayes was forced to Treat with them to depart with Bagge and Baggage This place yeelded vp none in these Quarters held out but Ellenbogen a place verily not great yet well and strongly scituated by Nature Besides the Cittizens who were much affected to the Kings party there were yet within it three Companies of good Souldiers Count Henry of Ortenberg a young but braue and generous Lord by the appointment of the Lord Marshall Commanded the Towne in the Name of his Maiesty As Falkenaw was taken in the 1. of Aprill they planted their siege before Ellenbogen the 2. of the same Month where they lay till the 26. of Aprill with as much resolution and wilfulnes as could bee imagined putting to all their Forces vigour and Stratagems which their Courages and Passion could furnish them with The Cannon played perpetually Balles of wild-fire were flung in vncessantly they notwithstanding in the Towne encouraged by the said Lord the Count to continue the Seruice of his Maiesty were not wearyed out for any labour but the more the Enemy prest vpon them the more resolutely they bestirred themselues to beate him off which they did with such diligence that had they not wanted Powder they had without doubt made good the place The Lord Marshall all rhe Siege did what was possible to succour them hee still giuing aduice to the said Lord the Count enioyning him neuerthelesse whatsoeuer befell that in Case hee sawe himselfe pressed before the succours came in to Treate betimes rather then bee brought into extremities and so loose the hope of obtayning an Honourable parley to saue the Troupes which was a thing he desired him aboue all At last about the 26. of Aprill the Lord Marshall went from Turchenreut with his Army which was but uery small with an intent to rayse the Siege at what rate soeuer it should bee to the Enemies And whilest his Vantguard was taking the passage of Koningswart in Bohemia Ellenbogen was rendred vpon Composition the said Lord the Count being forced to it for the wants aforesaid and some other inconueniences hapning amongst the Souldiers The Articles were Honourable considering the time that is to say That our Garrison should depart with Bag and baggage Bullet in the mouth Matches light Drums beating and Colours flying c. But the Enemy accustomed to breake his Faith to those of the Religion iust as they had serued vs at Tachaw so did they them heere for as our men went out they pillaged them one after another So that this particular losse to our people was no lesse sencible to our folke then that was to the publique Ellenbogen being lost the Lord Marshall retired againe into the Palatinate to goe on with his leuyes of Souldiers and to prepare himselfe for some better Designe which wee leaue to others to Discourse off when time shall serue And to conclude this Treatise which was compiled to no other end as hath beene said but truely to represent what hath passed vnder the Commaund of the Lord Marshall that the impartiall Reader may Iudge whether rightfully or wrongfully those ilwillers haue taxed his Fidelity The desire to make a Discouery of the Truth of these Rumours hath caused me to make this Apologie And since it is for the Truth I haue endeauoured to follow euery where the Kings high-way without straying to slip willingly into any by pathe of lying I take to witnesse all those that haue any knowledge in these Affaires without excluding the very Enemies whose testimony I will not out of feare refuse in this matter And if it seemes to any that I haue said too little of these passages or that I haue cut them off too short let them knowe my intention was no other then simply to shew the Innocency of the Lord Marshall by a liuely recitall of all that cōcerned him and not to offend any by bringing in such matters as might more preiudice a third person then profite the said Lord. The truth surely ought to bee spoken but yet in its due time Shee hath her limites and her bounds which it is not so conuenient to exceed It contents mee to haue said that which may serue to the conseruation of the Honour of the Lord Marshall whome of all other without praising him I desire to touch T is a signe of Pouerty to make a man braue with borrowed Cloathes hee that is of himselfe loaden with Honour and Renowne why should I beg for him otherwhere Of this if hee wants more hee will himselfe better purchase it with one blowe of his valiant Sword then I can giue him with a thousand Dashes of my rude Pen. But seriously thus much Beholde him on Horsebacke with his Sword in his hand followed by a number of Braue and Noble Caualiers and ready to rush into the thickest of his Enemies Take heed you Lyars and backbiters If the truth of my Quill cannot make you looke red for shame the Valour of his Arme shall make you looke pale for feare yea and burst for altogether Let vs see a little what hee will doe and by the successe of his Noble exploits Iudge the sincerity of his Intentions seeing it is the End that Crownes the Action FINIS By S. W.